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Every year an estimated 230,480 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 40,000 die from it, including my grandmother and two aunts. So I’m delighted to round up some great products whose companies donate a portion of sales to aid cancer research during the month of October – National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Let’s start by saying thanks to the grand dame of cosmetics, Evelyn Lauder, for founding The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in 1993. So please put your money where your heart is and make sure to do a weekly self-breast exam and have an annual mammogram. For more information on the subject, please visit www.cancer.gov.

GO PINK

Enjoy the fabulous scent of America’s number one fragrance — Estee Lauder’s Beautiful Eau de Parfum Spray – featured with a special pink sleeve for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. $63.50 at www.esteelauder.com. They are donating $500,000 to BCRF as part of the Pink Ribbon Collection.

GET RELIEF

Photo Credit: aveda.com

Get through the winter months with soft and supple hands using Aveda Hand Relief. This incredibly rich moisture therapy – infused with vitamins A & E and plant emollients — soothes dry mitts and helps diminish signs of aging. This limited edition specially packaged tube retails for $21 at www.aveda.com. Aveda will donate $4 from each sale to BCRF.

COMING UP ROSES

Photo Credit: jomalone.com

Everything will be coming up roses with Jo Malone’s Red Roses Cologne. The stunning fragrance unfolds like a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers – a scent that can easily become an addiction. Also try the bath oil and double your pleasure. 1.0 fl. oz. $55 at www.jomalone.com. They will donate $15,000 to BCRF from sales of these products.

NAIL IT

Photo Credit: opi.com

Hand it to OPI Pink of Hearts polish to mirror the traditional pink ribbon. So put a rosy glow on your fingertips and help the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure by adding to OPI’s promised $25,000 donation. $7.50at www.opi.com or nail salons nationwide.

FACE IT

Photo Credit: clinique.com

Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion quenches dry skin without any greasy residue. The lightweight lotion glides on like air and covers small imperfections for an allover glow. For each product sold, $10 is donated to BCRF. $35 for 6.7 fl. oz. at www.clinique.com.

A HELPING HAND

Photo Credit: origins.com

Origins Helping Hands Make a Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment makes good use of Mother Nature’s best ingredients, including the rose of Jericho, sea haricots, and scutellaria extract, to soothe hands by repairing UV damage and hydrating dry skin. Origins will donate $35,000 from the proceeds of this product to BCRF. $18.50 at www.origins.com.

SKIN-TASTIC

Photo Credit: skin2skincare.com

Rejuvenate head to foot with Skin 2 Skin Care’s Aging Intervention Cream. It contains antioxidants to repair fine lines and wrinkles. The silky formula helps hydrate the skin while brightening tone and preventing destruction of collagen. $69 at www.skin2skincare.com. 5% of proceeds from the sale of this cream and 24/7 Rejuvenation will benefit BCRF.

ON THE GO

To support the cause, ZO Skin Health by Zein Obagi, MD, is sponsoring a gift with any $150 purchase of Skin Health products. Valued at $46, the gift includes deluxe travel size versions of Offects Exfoliating Cleanser and Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 – packaged in a silver mesh bag all tied up with a pink ribbon. To order, go to: www.zoskinhealth.com.

THE BOOM BOOM DEAL

Photo Credit: boomboombrowbar.com

Boom Boom Push-Up Brow highlighting pencil makes you look like you’ve just had an eye lift. The two-sided pencil has a subtle matt side and a sparkly razzle-dazzle side, too. During October, the price is reduced from $18 to $10 and 10% of each sale will benefit the American Cancer Society – a double boom boom. Available at www.boomboombrowbar.com.

AN EYE OPENER

Photo Credit: sukiskincare.com

Suki Eye Lift Cellular Renewal Cream is a youth-restoring and luxurious eye treatment. The key ingredients – acai oil and licorice root – boost collagen synthesis, diminish under-eye puffiness and brighten dark circles to produce a visible radiance. Not only does it do wonders for your appearance, the company is donating 100% of proceeds purchased on www.sukiskincare.com during October to Breast Cancer Action (www.BCAction.org). $54.95 at www.sukiskincare.com.

MIND YOUR BEESWAX

Photo Credit: jamarklabs.com

Surgeon’s Skin Secret Beeswax Moisturizer Stick with Grapefruit is perfect for hydrating extra-dry skin on elbows, knees, heels and other places where flaking occurs. Made with mineral oil, lanolin, and fruit extract. The company is donating $1 from each sale to www.breastcancer.org. $9.95 at www.jamarklabs.com.

A BED OF ROSES

Photo Credit: barneys.com

La Vie En Rose Eau Splendide, from Annick Goutal Parfums, is a fragrant blend of vitamin E, rose extract and a host of minerals that makes this fragrance a remedy for skin repair. In memory of the company’s founder, 30% of the proceeds will go to the American Breast Cancer Foundation to help underprivileged women get mammograms and screenings. $89 at www.barneys.com.